Fellowship of Fantasy: Reader Reviews

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating: Romantic tension between the two main characters, people getting turned to ice and melted, epic battle at the end with mild fantasy violence

The Review:Rizkaland is unique and every bit as much fun as Bookania, but in different ways. The world is cylinder-shaped, science works differently there, and of course, portals exist between our world and there, so our hero and heroine are not native to Rizkaland.The main characters, Clara and Andrew, hail from our world, and get pulled through a doorway into Rizkaland in order to fulfill a prophecy and save multiple kingdoms from Amber, the dragon who threatens their world. However, Clara and Andrew aren’t certain they want anything to do with this destiny that has been thrust upon them. And they certainly have no interest in falling in love with each other, as the prophecy seems to imply must happen!Things I Loved:The Writing Style – It’s hard to describe a writing style, as each reader is going to have a different sort of taste or preference, but Kendra’s writing just sort of draws me in and invites me to pull a warm blanket around my shoulders and settle in, because I just know I’m about to embark on a fun adventure.Andrew – Andrew is my favorite character in this story. He is responsible, caring, compassionate, and exactly the sort of person you’d want on your side if you had to go up against a dragon. I love that he represents a more “hearth-like” sort of fire, the steady, gentle glow that keeps you warm, rather than the raging inferno or devouring monstrosity that “fiery” personalities usually engender. But that doesn’t mean he’s weak, on the contrary, it might take more to get him riled, but Andrew is no slouch when it comes to protecting the people he cares about. He has a core of steel.Clara – Although it took me longer, I did eventually grow to enjoy Clara. She got on my nerves a bit in the beginning, but she was frightened and so I suppose it makes sense that she felt the need to be prickly. I also have a soft spot for feisty, talented female protagonists who are a bit marshmallowy inside than they seem. Clara’s not as tough as she’d like you to think she is.The plot - From mazes and puzzles to solve, journeys across foreign lands, quests to find each other, hints that not all is as it seems, and the culmination of an epic battle… this story was fun to read!The references – Clara quotes things. I quote things. I think, on that front, we’d be kindred spirits. It makes me happy that I “got” every reference she made, and it was entertaining to come across these little quote-nuggets throughout the book.Things I Didn’t Love:As I mentioned earlier, Clara took a while to grow on me. She starts out kind of obnoxious, and I sort of wanted to shake her every now and then.There were a few places where the story felt like it dragged a little and nothing seemed to be happening.The battle at the end sort of felt like it ended too easily, like Amber had been hyped-up a bit too much… I guess I was expecting something a bit more epic and grand in scope.The “it’s all going to end okay” use of prophecy throughout the story kind of grated a bit on my nerves. Don’t get me wrong, I love the prophecy trope (I wrote one, myself!), I love books with happy endings and I always want the good guys to win… but I don’t want to know a quarter of the way into the book that the ending WILL be happy and that the good guys will win. For me, that detracts from the adventure. Everything was spelled out so neatly in the prophecy, it wasn’t a mysterious prophecy, it was a “this is what is going to happen, so get on board and go do it” kind of prophecy, and for me, that made it hard to get too worried about the characters.These are minor quibbles, however, and overall the story was an enjoyable read.Ideal Audience:I think this would be a great book for readers 12 and up who enjoy bantering characters, sword fights, and portal fantasy.

Books and movies you would compare this to:I recommend it to anyone who enjoys The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Inkheart, or portal fantasies in general.

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Favorite: Andrew

What mood did this book leave you in?Satisfied... but that EPILOGUE!!! *sobs*

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating:There are a couple of kisses, which were pretty tame and not described really at all, but there's also a lot of emotional investment between the characters, hence the slightly higher rating. (minor content point related to a spoiler. Scroll down to the bottom of the review to be informed)

The Review:CommonThis book tore my heart out numerous times. I can't even express to you how many times I felt like the book could have ended so happily only to turn the page and experience the exact emotions of Luke Skywalker upon discovering that Darth Vader is his father!

I just finished this book last night and I am still processing. There were a lot of emotions throughout this story, and trying to sift through them is complicated. I think I'm just going to have to give you a list of the 10 things I loved about this book.

1. I'm not sure how to "title" this first point... so I'm just going to explain it, instead. This is the sort of book that has time-traveling capabilities. It's the kind of book that pulls you in and refuses to let you go. It's the sort of book where you lose all track of time and think, "I can't have been reading for very long... I'll just read one more chapter." Only to look up and discover that your afternoon has disappeared. I love that kind of book, the kind that is so immersive that you don't even notice you've spent several blissful hours reading.

2. Leah Wellstone. The main character was absolutely delightful. I tend to prefer male MCs and it can often be difficult for me to connect with female protagonists... particularly female protagonists who are telling the story from a first-person POV... so this is VERY high praise, indeed, because Leah has taken a place in my heart on the "favorite characters" list, and that is no easy feat! Unlike so many typical first-person female protagonists these days, Leah was not at all a whiny, self-absorbed, angry teenager with low self-esteem. She wasn't a perfect Mary Sue, either. (A "Mary Sue" for those unfamiliar with the term are "perfect or idealized fictional characters who are able to perform tasks better than they should be able given their experience") Leah was definitely not that. She had her share of flaws - she is shy, she's a little naive and a bit too trusting at times, and she struggles with doubts about herself and whether or not she believes in the Luminate (this world's name for God).

3. Rafe. Prince Raphael, to be exact. While there were times I wanted to step into the book and absolutely wring his neck for being terribly stupid, I just couldn't help but love him, as well. Though he is impetuous, a bit reckless, and entirely too oblivious to how he takes his position for granted, he means well, and you just have to love him for trying so hard. Despite his flaws and youth, the author does a fantastic job showing that he truly does have the makings of a great leader and king...

4. Unexpected twists and turns. Another thing I loved about this book was how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea where it was going to go next. Leah runs into several obstacles throughout the story and with each one I was left wondering, "How in the world is she going to overcome that?" She always had a plan of some kind, but I could never predict what it would be.

5. This is another point I don't have a name for... Emotional Investment, maybe? The story ripped my heart out multiple times... not just once, like normal stories... but it also did a good job stitching the pieces back together.

6. Friendship/Romance. I loved how Rafe and Leah were friends, and how it was obvious that they had been friends their whole lives, before they fell in love. I'm not always a huge fan of romance, but the kind I tend to like best is the kind that just sort of happens naturally and feels believable as the story unfolds. This was exactly the sort and amount of romance I enjoy in a story. There were emotions and a couple of kisses, but even though their romance was central to the story, it wasn't overpowering and the plot and character development came first. I also loved that part of the building blocks of their friendship came through Rafe teaching Leah to read when they were children!

7. The gentle fairy-tale elements to this fantasy novel. There was a lovely fairy-tale feel to this story, though I didn't notice it at first. For the first three-quarters of the book, it honestly doesn't even seem to have very many overtly "Fantasy" elements to it, either. The "not our world" medieval castle/royalty setting was the only clue to the genre for much of the story. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but there are some more fantasy elements that come through later in the story that took me pleasantly by surprise!

8. Leah's Mother. It would have been so easy for the author to make Leah an orphan. SO EASY. But I'm just thrilled that she didn't. Leah's Ma is an incredible character and a wonderful mom (which was a neat side-benefit to reading this in May right before Mother's Day) and there just aren't enough of her kind of character in fantasy. I appreciated the tension that having her mother around added to Leah's life and the decisions she had to make... as her mother is both strong of faith and capable as a seamstress, but also not in the best of health.

9. Gretchen. Leah's best friend did not get a lot of page-time, but she was a fun little bundle of energetic addition to the story. I loved that Leah had a fairly normal existence. She has a good position as a chamber-maid, and even has potential to move up in the world. She has a loving mother, good friends, and even her "boss" is stern, but kind, and thinks highly of Leah.

10. The end. I can't say ANYTHING about this because SPOILERS but I will say that it is beautiful and perfect and I did NOT think it was going to be because the story seemed determined to prevent the ending from being anything like what I was hoping for... I think the thing I appreciate most is that the author let certain characters be far more than caricatures. People can change. Circumstances and events of magnitude can change minds and stances. Even those set in their ways can learn humility and wisdom. And that is illustrated beautifully at the end of this book. I'm not even disappointed that the sequel appears to be about completely different characters, that is how satisfying the end was.

11. Honorable mention: the nuns were another favorite aspect of this story, but I really can't say anything about them without giving away spoilers.... so.... just go read the book yourself and then we can discuss!

Ideal Audience:12 and up, lovers of Kingdom Adventure, fairy tales, romance, and adventureBooks and movies you would compare this to:Ever After

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character? Favorite: Leah

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating: The story deals with native Bornean beliefs, which include headhunting and blood sacrifices, though they are not described in detail.

The Review:Iban Dream is the story of a young Iban boy left to fend for himself after the shaman of his longhouse ordered for him to be cast out because of an evil spirit. Adopted by Tok Anjak, respected leader of the Orang Utan, as a child and claimed by Sengalang Burong, the warpath god, in his adulthood, Bujang Maias must reconcile his peaceful upbringing by the apes with the violence required of him as a warrior and headhunter.

In this fanciful tale, Mowe offers a glimpse into the ancient beliefs of the headhunting Ibans. Legends come to life as Bujang discovers his heritage and his half-forgotten adat (customs) through his conversations with the gods, the spirits, the animals, and the augur of the longhouse that he eventually comes to lead.

Mowe's writing is style is simple, capturing the innocence of Bujang and the rural naïveté of the Ibans as they come into contact with the deceptions and depravity of life outside their jungle for the first time. There is a distinctive sound to the way she writes, as if she is one of the story tellers of old, narrating according to the oral tradition.

Although the blurb describes it as "fantasy fiction" drawing on the real beliefs, taboos and terminology of the Ibans in Borneo, the book itself reads like a mix between folktales and mythology. Iban Dream, with its animistic, tribalistic framework may be a little jarring for readers used to white epic fantasy.

The Review:Lucy Sinclair is making her big debut in London Society. Everything is going well - her presentation to the King and Queen is as wondrous as she hoped - and her brother-in-law, Lord Thornewood, is scritinizing everyone and everything to make sure that she's protected from The Order of the Eternal Sun. Yet, Lord Alexander Radcliffe, Earl of Devonshire, manages to attend her debut ball, unknown and uninvited, managing to steal her heart - and exposing her to danger - all in one slick move.

On the surface, The Order of the Eternal Sun felt a little run-of-the-mill. After all, you have a young female protagonist who is coming of age and has new powers she's still learning to control, there's a love interest and another potential love interest (both very young and handsome), dangerous enemies who are after her (and her family), an overbearing/overprotective father-figure and an old mentor who steps into the picture.

And yet, Leake makes it fresh and exciting. Lucy is no shrinking lily - she's half Sylvanian with dangerous enemies after her and a growing power she's still learning to control but she's not sitting around freaking about it. She's taking decisive action, mostly rational, though sometimes too trusting - like any eighteen year old tends to be when they're in love (or at least when they think they are).

Alexander starts off as an enigma. Leake masterly fills you in with pieces of his history so you think you know his motives and yet at the same time, you're left confused - as confused as Lucy - because you can't tell if he is good or bad. You want him to be good, because you don't want Lucy to be hurt, but at the same all information points the other way and you think that she's being overly naive and trusting.

Because she's a teen and I suppose this is YA fantasy (maybe?) there's a love triangle and whilst I'm tired of this, it was quite well set up and not simply a sappy girl who can't make up her mind.

The Sylvanian world is well-constructed. You're drawn into a place of wonder and excitement. It feels as if Leake has created a real world with very real rules and consequences. The only thing I really want to know is why those with lesser Sylvan blood (such as Lucy's niece) seems to be growing stronger powers than their full-blooded or half-blooded Slyvanian relatives - it's something not quite explained in the book, and something the Queen also wants to find out, so I'm guessing this might be the topic (or at least the driving force) of the next story set in this wonderful world.

One slight detraction - from a story set in the 1800s Victorian English, most of the events of the story felt like it was set in the right period. However, some phrases used and spoken expressions felt a little too modern. Then again, I'm not an expert on the period, so I can't say for sure.

The Review:Sometimes what comes after The End isn't necessarily happily ever after. That's the case with Bensin and his sister, who escape a life of slavery only to discover freedom has its own hardships. Also, Coach Steene goes from a free man to a slave, and while the transition is difficult, it gives his character a real chance to shine. What I loved most about this book was the growing relationship between Steene and his owner. This is a great book of learning kindness, humility, and patience. Highly recommended.

Ideal Audience:Teens and adults, but especially boys because of the male leads. Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Steene is my favorite.

The Review:What a beautiful young adult fantasy novel! The medieval setting was not atypical; however, it had plenty of unique characteristics to set it apart. Things likes the lizard-like Horde, and one of the main characters being a pacifist are not something you run across in your every day fantasy novel. I enjoyed the gentle love story between the two main characters, and the growth both showed through trial and hardship. In all, this is a lovely novel, highly recommended for teens on up. Mom approved!

Ideal Audience:12+. I think boys might like this, as it has a male MC. Girls too, because of his love interest, the female mc.

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Mercy. She grew a lot in strength through trial.

The Review:Meet Robin and Robert, royal twins who seem to be the victims of a tragic mistake. You see, when they were born, their fairy godmother mixed up their gifts. Princess Robin is quite handy with a sword, while Prince Robert spends his hours sewing marvelous tapestries. Their parents have been searching for a way to switch the twins’ gifts, and a way has finally been found! The twins must undertake a quest to find their fairy godmother and make the request themselves… that is… if they still want their gifts switched by the time they find her!

Sew is short, sweet, and a fairly quick read. The characters don’t always know exactly where they’re going and sometimes the plot meanders a bit, but the author is quick to point it out when this happens, which is highly entertaining. The twins are fun characters to spend time with and along the way they start to gather up quite a collection of fellow travelers – most of whom the reader will recognize from various fairy tales.

The story is well written, well-edited, and the only thing that took some getting used to was the way some of the characters use a sort of “Old English” way of speaking… which isn’t always correct or true to our own “Old English,” but then, Bookania isn’t exactly in our world, and Kendra is consistent with how she uses the dialect, so it worked for me.

While the end of the story does not come as a shock (it’s a fairy tale, the ending isn’t really supposed to be a shock), there are enough surprises to keep the reader interested, and more than enough truly fantastic puns that will keep you chuckling out loud as you read. The story wraps up nicely, without any pesky cliffhangers, but leaves itself open for a sequel.

The Review:Ayianna is a half-elven girl on the cusp of womanhood with dreams far above her station in life – wishing to sail on an elven ship and study the stars, impossible because she is not fully elven and because she is a woman. However, when her family moves away from the Elven city of Zurial and her father betroths her to Desmond, a handsome, human merchant who also has dreams above his position in life, it seems that Ayianna’s dreams have come to an end.

However, when her father is murdered in the forest before Ayianna’s eyes and he gives her a dagger and a cryptic message, Ayianna is unsure of how to proceed. When she discovers that her mother has disappeared and her brother has also been killed, she joins forces with an enigmatic and bitter young half-elf named Kael. Together they will travel with Desmond and his friend, Prince Vian as they search for answers as to why Ayianna’s father was killed. Along the way they will discover that something much deeper and more dangerous is in the wind.

It took two pages for this story to grab me and hold me spellbound. The writing style is beautiful and the characters step right off the pages and into your room. It is almost more like watching a theatrical play than reading a story. The descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the story, battling my way through dark forests and crossing parched deserts. I was rooting for Ayianna to realize her dreams…. and maybe grow a bit of a spine, but she can’t be faulted for not being great at wilderness exploration when she’s never done it before… I think that’s what I liked most about the story, that Ayianna is probably a pretty good depiction of how I would fare if I were thrust into an unanticipated adventure.

The pacing is very good, lots of excitement and adventure to keep your heart pounding as you read. There were a few places where I felt that the dialogue was a bit “off” – I’m not sure how to explain it… whenever a magical creature appeared, the way they spoke just didn’t feel “right” to me, like their voice wasn’t quite fleshed out. However, that only happens twice, and didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story.

I really loved this book and cannot wait to find out what happens to all of these characters.

The Review:This book is beautifully written and completely different from anything I have ever read before. This could partially be due to it being slightly off-set from my typical preferred genre, but I think it was more than that.

There are fantasy elements to this novel, but they are extremely subtle. For the most part, this story reads like an historical romance, though the romantic elements are also extremely subtle and woven into the story in such a way that make it almost seem that they aren't really there, or that the story doesn't need them. There's a hint of steampunk, a glimmer of Christian Inspiration, and a whole lot of adventure. It's one of those books that just sort of has a bit of everything. And while it boasts no dragons or magic or dark lords of evil intent on conquering the world (or... are there...?) it still captured my heart completely.

The characters truly step off the page. Though books written in first-person present tense are not usually my favorite, I found that I did not mind riding around in the main character's head. Perhaps it is because Izzy feels more like a real person than a caricature, as can often be the case with first person present tense stories. She is a character who is unsure of who she is, she has holes in her memory and cannot remember anything prior to coming to live at Gudwyne cottage—though she knows she was burned in a bad fire at some point before then, she has the scars and the memories of being cared for after they happened, but she does not know how or why she was burned. And yet, her uncertainties do not define her. She is not crippled by her doubts and fears, but works to overcome them, and even uses them to spur herself on when faced with adversity.

Jonathan is Izzy's self-appointed guardian. Though he is only 8 years her senior, he has been taking care of her since she was seven years old. Back then, Izzy gave him permission to keep her past a secret, to hold her memories for her. But now, Izzy is eighteen and starting to feel the weight of those secrets... she wants to know who she was and what happened to bring her to the Gudwyne's, but Jonathan seems unwilling to loose the secrets he has been holding for the past eleven years.... so Izzy sets out with her young friend, Tubs, to find the answers to the secrets Jonathan refuses to tell her. However, in spite of her curiosity, she is unprepared for the truth. When she sees a glimpse of what has been hidden from her, Izzy is not sure she will ever recover... or see Jonathan the same way again.

But events are transpiring swiftly, and before she can begin to cope with the fragments of her stolen past that are returning, she finds herself thrust into a new adventure across the ocean to the New World, where the rest of her history and heritage lie waiting for her to claim them, as well as her rightful place among her true people.

There were moments in this story that made me laugh out loud. Izzy has a no-nonsense, self-deprecating sense of humor, and her stray thoughts are often truly amusing.

There were moments in this story that got me a little choked up. And there were moments in this story that had me sobbing uncontrollably and incapable of reading further until I could clear my eyes of the tears that made the pages swim into an unreadable jumble of blurry letters.

There were surprises, and adventures, and a beautiful Christian message of forgiveness and salvation woven throughout the story in a way that was both gentle and not-at-all-preachy or allegorical. If you like stories such as The Sign of the Beaver, Hind's Feet on High Places, Pride and Prejudice, and The Ilyon Chronicles, this book is one I think you would definitely enjoy: it has elements of all of these.

Ideal Audience:Good for anyone who likes a lot of adventure and hints of romance and steampunk/fantasy

Books and movies you would compare this to:Pride and Prejudice, The Ilyon Chronicles, Hind's Feet on High Places, Sign of the Beaver

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?My favorite character was Tubs. My least favorite character was Jared... shudder.

What mood did this book leave you in?Kind of weepy... satisfied... anxious for the sequel.

Reviews by Readers

This blog features reviews of Fellowship of Fantasy titles submitted by readers.All reviews are the opinion of the reviewer, not necessarily of the Fellowship of the Fantasy's administrators or authors.Likewise content ratings applied to the books are at the discretion of that particular reader/reviewer. What may be a G for one may be PG for another.